2014 MEN’S SOCCER SEASON IN REVIEW

BOSTON, Mass. – The Emmanuel College men's soccer team showed moments of brilliance during the 2014 campaign but was unable to put it all together consistently, finishing the season with a 5-11-2 overall record that included a 4-5 mark in Great Northeast Athletic Conference action.  The Saints were able to earn a GNAC playoff berth for the second consecutive year before falling in the Quarterfinals to end the season.

On August 30, the Saints opened the year with a hard-fought 2-2 draw against Fenway neighbors Wentworth. Trailing 2-0, Emmanuel scored both its goals within a 5:47 span late in the second half to fight for the tie with goals from sophomore Jordan Maurer (Florence, Mass.) and junior David Field (Laguna Niguel, Calif.).

The Saints got their first win of the season a week later with a 1-0 road victory over Daniel Webster College as sophomore Wojciech Kopacz (Garfield, N.J.) scored the lone goal while senior goalkeeper Garrett Charette (West Springfield, Mass.) made five saves for the shutout.

Following a non-conference loss to Wheaton College, Emmanuel posted another draw with a 1-1 result against Lesley University.  A late second half goal by Field earned the Saints the point as the Saints entered conference play with a 1-1-2 mark.

Emmanuel dropped its GNAC opener to Johnson & Wales, 5-0, before rebounding for a 2-0 victory over Rivier University in the Saints' 2014 home-opener. Sophomore transfer Colin O'Donnell (Killingworth, Conn.) netted the game-winner while rookie forward Brendan Quinn (Colchester, Conn.) scored his first collegiate goal for some insurance late in the action.

The squad struggled to close out September, dropping two one-goal decisions to end the month against Newbury (1-0) and Anna Maria (3-2) and the poor play continued on Oct. 1 with a 5-3 loss to Emerson College.

Over the next four games, the Saints were able to figure some things out in their lineup and it showed in the end result as the squad posted three wins starting with a 1-0 victory over Mount Ida. Senior James Carroll (Guilford, Conn.) scored the game-winner with 2:16 left to play for a thrilling road win.

On October 14, the Saints posted another 1-0 win over Lasell College with junior Stefano Sainato (Albany, N.Y.) scoring the winner with 7:02 left in regulation. The strong play continued later the same week with a 3-0 victory over Suffolk. Carroll scored two second half goals while freshman Cameron Messier (Belchertown, Mass.) scored his first collegiate goal in the win. The shutout was the 13^th of Charette's career, moving him into first all-time in EC history for career shutouts.

Unfortunately for the Saints, the team faced some of its toughest competition to close the regular season, dropping decisions to Clark (4-1), Norwich (6-2), Saint Joseph's (ME) (2-0) and MIT (4-0) to end the campaign on a four-game skid heading into the GNAC tournament.

The Saints appeared to shake off the dust in the GNAC Quarterfinals against Lasell, jumping out to an early 2-0 lead behind goals from Messier and Carroll in the first 15 minutes of action before the Lasers scored five consecutive goals en route to a 5-3 decision to end the Saints campaign.

Field was named to the GNAC All-Conference Second Team while sophomore defender Jeff Allen (South Windsor, Conn.) earned Third Team honors.

Carroll and Charette graduate as the lone seniors on the squad, both having left their mark on the program. Charette walks away as the program leader among goalies in games and minutes played, shutouts and wins. Carroll ranks fourth all-time in total points with 44, ranking fourth in goals scored and fifth all-time in assists.